Tasks for May
May is a very exciting month in the garden! Summer feels within reach and spring really has sprung! The trees have put on their fresh new lime-green growth, there's abundant colour and (hopefully) it's starting to warm up, especially at night.
By the end of the month it should be fine to plant up your summer bedding displays, with the risk of frost past. Here's a few top tips for keeping up with the jobs which are needing done in the garden this month.
Prune spring shrubs, such as Forsythia, Ribes and Kerria, after flowering to keep them compact and promote strong new growth.
Pinch out the shoot tips of bedding plants and young annuals to encourage bushier growth.
Frost is still a risk in May so watch out for late frosts. Protect tender plants with horticultural fleece at night.
Lift and divide overcrowded clumps of Daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs for a better display next year.
Tie in the new shoots of climbing plants, including Clematis, Wisteria and Honeysuckle, to their supports. Be careful as the new growth is delicate and easy to break.
Harden off summer bedding and tender annuals and plant out after the last frost.